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NID to Review Water Rates and Hydropower License Costs 

This Wednesday, NID will review two critical agenda items that will impact the fiscal health of the District for years to come. 

First, the Board will review the implementation costs and planning associated with their impending new hydropower license for the Yuba-Bear Project. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issues 30-to-50-year licenses to operators of hydropower projects. As each license expires, FERC requires the license holder to start a multi-year process to relicense its project, setting new rules and regulations for the next three to five decades. This gives organizations like SYRCL a rare window of opportunity during which to advocate for changes that will benefit our rivers and watersheds. That is why the Hydropower Reform Coalition (HRC), Foothills Water Network (FWN) and member organizations, like SYRCL, are actively involved in relicensing efforts all over the state to advocate for such environmental measures. NID has been in "relicensing" for almost a decade, and for the first time in over two years, is evaluating and planning for the required costs of their Yuba-Bear hydropower facilities at a Board meeting. This is an important step towards fiscal responsibility as a steward of the Bear and Yuba River watersheds. 

Second, the Board will also vote to approve a staff report analyzing the Cost of Service Study (COS) and giving direction essential to establishing new water rates for 2021. The COS determines how much it costs the District to provide raw and treated water based on actual costs, which in turn helps NID determine how to set water prices for customers. Just last month, NID started a process to evaluate increasing customer water rates. Watch the first Water Rates Committee meeting here. As a reminder, NID's 2020 Budget assumes that water rates will increase at least 46% starting next year. As an essential service for our community, SYRCL hopes NID will balance fiscal responsibility with tenable water rates increases for its customers.  

Want to learn more? Join us virtually this Wednesday. 

Dam(ing) News: 

• The Union: "A new beginning for NID" by Ashley Overhouse and Melinda Booth 
• The Union: "Racism, genocide, and ecocide" by Dianna Suarez 
• SJV Water: "Temperance Flat Dam on indefinite hold after report shows it doesn’t pencil out for water users" by Lois Henry 

Tips for Virtual NID Meetings

As a reminder, there are two different ways you can watch and/or listen to the NID Board Meeting this Wednesday. You will need an internet enabled computer equipped with a microphone and speaker, or a device with phone capabilities. Use of a webcam is optional.

1. Join the Zoom Video Meeting. Click or copy and paste link for the meeting you want to join from above into the search field of an internet browser.
2. Call the Teleconference Number.

• Are you joining via an internet browser on your computer? Make sure your internet browser is up to Zoom requirements to ensure access. 
• Are you joining on your mobile device? Log-in with Zoom mobile app on a smartphone and enter the Meeting ID#. To view the meeting agenda on a mobile device, please switch to “Request Desktop Website” in your browser settings.
• Want to make public comment? The best way to give public comment via Zoom is the "raise your hand" function. See these instructions for more information, and make sure that your microphone is not muted when you give public comment. 
• Is the phone line busy? More phone numbers can be found on Zoom’s website at https://zoom.us/u/acbEgxZkFI. 

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